Search To Resume For Missing Japanese Man This Weekend

Friday 8 August, 2014

10:00 AM

The Skamania County Sheriff’s office will resume searching for a Japanese man missing since 27 November 2013 on the southern flanks of Mt St Helens early Saturday morning. YOSUKE ONISHI, 27, was reported missing after not returning to the Lone Fir Resort in Cougar, WA to pick up his personal effects. Mr. ONISHI reportedly left the Lone Fir Resort on the morning of the 27th with the plan to go to the summit of Mt St Helens by way of the Climbers Bivouac. He reportedly received a ride from a couple with a dog to the area and was dropped off.

Investigators have been unable to locate the couple that gave Mr. ONISHI a ride and would like to talk with them about the location where they dropped him off. Extensive searching in the area at that time, and an in-depth subsequent investigation by both the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office and the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office has not revealed the whereabouts of Mr. ONISHI.

The SW Washington Region 4 All Hazard Incident Management Team will be assisting the coordination of the search efforts for this two day search. There will be approximately 80 to 100 ground Search and Rescue members, as well as K9 teams and technical mountain Search and Rescue teams working together for this incident.

“We have a very formidable task ahead of us for the next two days”, said Undersheriff Dave Cox. “We will be searching approximately 18 square miles of rugged terrain that is very hazardous to our search personnel. We are extremely grateful to the many volunteer Search and Rescue members and the SW Washington Incident Management Team for assisting with this effort this weekend. We are hopeful we will bring closure to this incident for Mr. ONISHI’s family and friends.”

*************END************

NOTE: THE SEARCH BASE WILL BE LOCATED AT THE MARBLE MOUNTAIN SNOW PARK LOCATED OFF FS ROAD 83, EAST OF COUGAR, WA IN THE GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST. THERE WILL BE AN INITIAL BRIEFING OF THE SAR TEAMS AT 0800 TOMORROW MORNING, 9 AUGUST 2014.